The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-08-20

| struck by two nature loving hearts, and they were chatting like old friends, Bess produced 5 curious bug that puzzled her natural history, and the brown hair and the dark bent over it. At this thrilling moment the rattsmen, each with an armful of blanks, arrived on the scene. The bi- ologists turn.
 "Boys. this gentleman" began Bess,
 Wal Graham :" exclaimed the three in startled chorus.
 "Who? Not Val Graham" cried Bess, with horror-tilled eyes and paling cheek. But, reading comfir- nation in the faces before her, she drops hastily the precious bug, flashes an angry glance at the owner of that name, and turning, runs swiftly into the woods.
 What have done? Who is she?" he asks, with perpleXed look.
 Why, it's our Bess, and she knows you hate girls and won't want her here. How did you happen to come? Thought you were sick," questioned the boys, altogether.
 "So was, but am better; only l lost myself in this maze and nearly tramped myself to death--if il hadn't been for her cotfee," he continues, awkwardly. "ilow could l hate to have her herc?" he adds so enthusias- tically that Hal retires suddenly be- hind the house and remarks;
 Well, I'll be b-b-blest" to his boots.
 How can the days that follow be described? Golden, sunshiny days, filled with simple pleasures. But, as reliable chronicler, l am very sorry that cannot say Miss Fleming's temper was all serene. Toward the unotiending Valentine she bore m en- mity that neither time nor familiarity seemed to soften. Occasionally she would unbend SO far as to allcw that gentleman to assist In her investiga- tions into the flora of the region of country in which they were.
 Can you guess what n revelation this sweet, tantalizing girl was to l young man who had never known woman's love? Day after day to watch her merry betting of those big l brothers, and then to recall his lonely childhood and youth. Is not the fate of this poor Val easily surmised:
 Tramping alone by the riverside, Val at last discovers and acknowl- i edges to himself the cause of the vague wretchedness of the past weeks-ac- knowledges with sickening rcaliza- tion that his happiness for life is in the hands of girl who has only an unreasoning hatred, or, at best a su- premc indifference, to give him; and he grinds his boot heel into the soft turf as he goes slowly toward the camp.
 A sudden turn around a clump of fringe-hung birches, and Mir. Graham beholds n spectacle which drives away from him ali thoughts of his own troubles.
 Upon gnarly old tree, leaning far out over the river, sits Miss Bess, plainly disconsolate. In the pool be- low her, her hat is slowly sailing around like gondola of new design. At the sound of footsteps she raises her head but as her eyes meet his, the welcoming glcam of hope in them gives way to a flash of ire, and she says petulantly:
 "Oh, I hoped you were Stcenic."
 ''Pm sorry" he says, gently, "but Steenie would not help you more gladly than would, were 1t in my power"
 After a pause, during which the girls tears puzzled him, he continued quietly:
 "Let us go home to the boys and our camp fire. It is getting late. You will take cold there; and you have lost your hat, too.
 "Not at all," returns Bess. 'T am only leaving il there till come down. am waiting for the sunset, but you need not wait, too"
 "But should like to-" A long pause engues. Miss Elem ing apparently gives rapt attention to some soft, fluffy little clouds flushed to rose pink by the setting sun. Mir Graham as intently gives his whole mind, aided by his good right arm, to the recovery of the truant hat, which eludes his impromptu fishing pole with an agility which seems to prove it endowed with the spirit of its owner.
 Il wish you would come down now," he breaks forth, landing as he speaks his dripping and somewhat di- lapidated prize. You don't look comfortable up there"
 "Well, Pm not" she replied, with unlooked-for energy and hysterical mingling of tears and laughter. "The branch that helped me up here broke of, and then foated down the river. Every time have tried to get down